Biological apparatus



March 26, 1957 P. c. TREXLER BIOLOGICALAPPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJune 16. 1955 IN VEN TOR. P/m /P 62 725x; 55.

BY W

March 26, 1957 c, TREXLER 2,786,464

BIOLOGICAL APPARATUS Filed June 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tia-4- UTE-'5INVENTOR.

PH/LB/YP C. /EEXZ.E.

emf M United States Patent BIOLOGICAL APPARATUS Philip C. Trexler,Niles, Mich., assignor to University of Notre Dame du Lac, Notre Dame,Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application June 16, 1955, Serial No.515,959

12 Claims. (Cl. 1281) This invention relates to improvements inbiological apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus of thecharacter illustrated in my Patent No. 2,705,489, dated April 5, 1955. I

The primary object of this invention is to provide a device of thischaracter having a novel sealed entrance for accommodating passage of aworker encased within a diving suit into a specimen-containing room orhis exit from such room in a manner to insure against change of thecontrolled environment existing within the specimen-containing room, andwhich eliminates certain mechanical difficulties with fastenersexperienced with the mechanism illustrated in my prior patent and whichalso requires less room or space than is required by the diving chamberconstruction as shown in Fig. 1 of my prior Patent No. 2,705,489.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having anaccess chamber construction which is applicable to any room entrance ordoorway and which will permit entrance into and exit from a specimenroom by one person, while one or more other persons are in the room,without interfering with the controlled environment within thespecimen-containing room.

A further object is to provide a device of this character with an accessunit providing convenience of entry and including a lock constructionhaving one or more air conduits connected permanently thereto andprovided with detachable connectors adapted to be engaged with a divingsuit while the latter is worn by a user, so as to limit the manipulationof a hose required in the operation of passing through the access unitto enter or leave a specimen-containing chamber.

A further object is to provide an access unit for a specimen-containingchamber, which is characterized by a lock construction having a flexibleentry tube adapted to be clamped to seal it and also having a closureprovided with a liquid seal.

A further object is to provide an access member for a specimen containerwhich is characterized by a flexible access tube adapted to be sealed byclamping means and carrying a telltale to permit ready determination ofthe effectiveness of the seal of the tube by the clamp.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawing:

Fig.1 is a vertical sectional view of the device with parts shown insection;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the clamp for sealing the entry device;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view taken on line2-2 of Fig. i;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view illustrating another embodiment ofthe invention; and

horizontal sectional view taken Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detailsectional view of the seal for the dome of the device.

. 2,786,464 Patented Mar. 26, 1957' Referring to the drawings whichillustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10designates a room or chamber which is preferably sealed throughout andprovided with means for maintaining it in a predetermined condition. Airwill be supplied to and withdrawn from the room by any suitable means.Thus an air supply conduit 12 may be provided with a filter 14 and willdischarge into the room, and a conduit 16 will be provided for exhaustof air from the chamber 10. The air supply 12 may be under a slightpositive pressure to maintain a condition within the chamber 10 in whichthe air is at a pressure slightly above atmospheric pressure so that airflow will be controlled. The room has an opening 18 for access purposesand my invention relates particularly to the means for permitting accessof a worker into the room and his movement from the room withoutdestroying the con, trolled environment within the room.

A sterile lock or chamber 20 is provided within the chamber 10 adjacentthe access opening 18. This chamber may be formed in any suitable mannerand as here shown is provided with columns or other vertical structuralmembers 22 which support a top member 24 having a top opening 26. Theparts 22 and 24 may be formed of metal or any other suitable material.The opening 26 is outlined by a vertical inner wall 28 of a channelhaving an outer vertical wall 30, the channel being open at its top. Atop closure, preferably of domelike character and having a central orclosure portion 32 and a continuous marginal depending flange or skirtportion 34, serves to seal the opening 26. The skirt 34 is of acircumferential or perimetral dimension greater than that of the channelwall 28 and less than that of the channel wall 30 so as to fittherebetween, that is, within the channel, the skirt 34 being of aheight greater than the height of the inner channel wall 28. The closure32 seals the opening 26 in conjunction with a liquid seal 36 containedwithin the channel 28, 30. The liquid 36 may be water or an aqueousgermicide, but I prefer to employ a plastic gum, such as a. silicone,for this purpose.

In order to facilitate manipulation of the closure 32 it may becounterweighted. One counterweight construction is illustrated in Fig.1, wherein the closure 32 is shown as being suspended by means of acentrally located cord, cable or chain which is trained around pulleyssuspended from the ceiling of the chamber 10 and which carries acounterweight 42 at its free end. This counterweight will be of a massless than the mass or weight of the closure 32, 34, so that the closurewill normally remain in closed and sealed position but may easily belifted to accommodate passage between the chamber 10 and the lock 20.

The lock 20 is defined by an imperforate wall structure. This wallstructure may be formed of any impervious material and constitutes amembrane or sheet material 44 which may be formed of synthetic resin orsheet metal. Any of a large variety of plastic films are available onthe market which are suitable for this service, and one material ofwhich such film may be formed is vinyl chloride. The wall-forming filmor membrane 44 is so constructed that all seams therein are sealed. Theupper and lower margins of the walls are continuously clamped oranchored by members 46 to the top of the chamber 24 and to the floor ofthe chamber 10, respectively. The sterile lock may be of thesubstantially rectangular shape illustrated in Fig. 2, and hasprojecting from wall 48 thereof an entry tube 50 having a sealed jointtherewith. The entry tube may be of the crosssectional characterillustrated in Fig. 5, being of sufficient height and width to permit aperson to pass there= through to enter into the lock 20 and withdrawfrom the lock '20. In this connection the view in Fig. 5 being avertical sectional view, it will be seen that the vertical cross-sectionof the tube 50 is endless except for the tube 52 extending therethroughadjacent the outer end thereof for purposes to be described hereinafter;The outer end of the tube 5i will be open and the inner end of the tube50 will be effectively sealed to the Walls of the lock 29 around theaccess opening thereto, as for example, will be effectively sealed toplastic membrane 44 in the form illustrated at the wall 48 thereof.

Means are provided to selectively seal the access tube 50, and as hereillustrated, such means preferably consist of two rigid clamp plates 54preferably of a length greater than the height or vertical dimension ofthe entry tube 50 which are preferably interconnected by hinging themember 56. The clamping plates 54 are positioned at opposite sides ofthe entry tube 5b so as to position the part thereof carrying the tube52 clear of the clamping-plates, as seen in Fig. 4. The end portion 58of the entry tube is then turned back between the clamping plates, asseen in Fig. 4, and in engagement with an expansible flexible tube orbladder 60 which extends between plates 54 for full length thereof. Themember 60 is preferably closed at one end and has connection with asource of liquid pressure. Any suitable looking or retaining means 62may be provided to hold the members 54 at a selected spaced locationless than a dimension equal to the combined thicknesses of the parts 50and 58 and the extended dimension of the member 6'9. Consequently, uponsubsequent fillltg of the tube 60 with liquid under pressure, theexpansion thereof will serve to cause a continuous and effective seal ofthe tube St? for the full height thereof and to spaced points thereof atopposite sides of the telltale tube 52, thus defining a chamber 64 inthe portion of the tube communicating with the telltale 52 into whichliquid may be introduced for purposes to be described.

Air lines are provided which lead into the lock 20 and are adapted forconnection with the air line attached to a diving suit (not shown) wornby an operator. Such diving suits completely encase the worker so thatan external source of air is necessary for breathing. The nature of theair supply system will vary, depending upon the condition of the chamberin which the work is being conducted. In cases where the chamber 10 ismaintained in a sterile or germ-free condition, two lines for supply andexhaust of air, respectively, will be provided. Thus, an air inlet line70 has a filter 72 and passes through the wall of the lock at a sealedjoint 74 to terminate in a coupling member 76 with which the lineattached to a diving suit is adapted to be detachably connected. Anoutlet line 78 is similarly sealingly connected to the lock wall at St!and has a coupling 82 by means of which an air exhaust line from thesuit can be detachably connected. It will be understood that ininstances where the chamber 10 contains contamination, the dischargeline 78 may be omitted and the diving suit may be constructed so thatthe exhalation of the worker will be discharged to atmosphere within thecontaminated space 10.

Means are provided within the sterile lock 2!) for sterilizing thediving suit. It will be apparent that in cases where the chamber 10 isgerm free, it is necessary that the lock 20 be sterilized before it isopened in communication with the chamber 10, and also it is necessarythat the diving suit or protective garment worn by the worker shall becompletely sterilized before the worker transfers from the lock 20 tothe chamber 10. In cases of a contaminated atmosphere within the chamber14), sterilization of the lock 20 is necessary following withdrawal of aworker from the contaminated chamber Mi into the lock 20. Thissterilization requires sterilization not only of the space within thelock 20 but also of the diving suit Worn by the worker. Suitablesterilization means may take different forms, and one such form as hereshown in Fig. 2 constitutes a line 86 extending to an air compressor andpreferably having a filter 88 interposed therein. An atomizer 90communicates with the line 86 and contains the sterilization medium. Theline 86 passes through the wall of the lock 20 at a sealing port 92thereof, and at its inner end within the lock 29 the line 36 mountsnozzle means 94- for discharge of atomized sterilizing material. Incases where the nozzles are fixedly positioned, they will be so locatedas to insure that sterilization medium discharged therefrom will acteffectively upon all parts of the lock 20, the interior of the tube 50to the point at which the same is clamped for sealing purposes and alsothe entire exterior of the protective garment or diving suit worn by theoperator.

Inasmuch as the exit opening 26 for the sterilizing lock 2% is locatedin the top thereof, suitable means must be provided for use by theoperator in entering and leaving the chamber 16. Thus a ladder 96 may beprovided within the sterile lock 20 and a ladder 5 8 may be provided inthe specimen chamber 10 to facilitate passage of the worker between saidchambers.

The air hose 1%, connected to the diving suit and also connected at thedetachable couplings 75 and 82 aforementioned, must be accommodated asthe operator passes from the sterile lock 20 into the chamber 18, andafter his entry the closure 32 is rescaled. For this purpose grips orclamps 102 may be provided mounted upon the conduit 1% and which includehook or fastener portions 104 adapted to engage the edges of the walls28 and 39. In addition, spacers 106 may span the channel 28, 39 atintervals, serving to support the bottom edge of the skirt portion 34.The spacers 106 will be of a vertical dimension greater than thethickness of the conduit so that it is possible for the conduit tea topass under the skirt without being clamped or closed off thereby. Thisconstruction or arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 7 and it will beapparent that as the worker moves from the lock 20 into the chamber 10he can apply the clamps 162, 104 on the conduit 1% to the channel wallsin the manner illustrated in Fig. 7 and thereby insure against injury tothe airlines while at the same time insuring that the liquid seal at 36with the margin of the skirt 34- will be effective. This is importantsince it makes possible the opening of the lock 29 after one worker hasentered the chamber 10 for the purpose of permitting additional workersto enter the chamber 10 by repeating the sterilization and entry processat spaced periods of time, all without altering or changing thecondition within the chamber 10. Thus the only restriction which thedevice imposes with respect to the number of people who may pass throughthe lock to enter the chamber 10 is the size of the chamber 10 and thenumber of connections for airlines which the device possesses.

Assuming that the chamber 10 contains specimens in either a germ-free ora germ-laden atmosphere and that a worker is required to enter thechamber 10 to work upon, observe or attend those specimens, the normalcondition of the device will be one in which the closure 32 between thechamber 10 and the lock 20 is sealed and the entry tube 50 into the lock26) is sealed. In preparing for entry, the worker first dons the divingsuit or protective garment aforementioned which is provided with a longlength of hose or two lengths of hose terminating at couplingsdetachably connectable at 76 and 82 within the sterile lock. The sealingdevice for the entry tube 50, as best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, isthen released so that the tube is open and the worker is enabled to passtherethrough for the purpose of entering the sterile lock 20. When heenters the sterile lock he immediately effects connection of his airlines 100 with the couplings 76 and 82. Thereupon an attendant outsideof the device reseals the entry tube 50 by the mechanism illustrated inFigs. 3 and 4 and by the process of applying the tube between theclamping plates and in engagement with the expansible member 60,followed by introduction of liquid under pressure into the expansionmember 60 to expand the same and to contract the tube 50 and its returnbent end portion 58. Thereupon the outer worker introduces liquid intothe chamber 64 through the telltale tube 52. The worker within theprotective garment is then subjected to the action of sterilization ofhis garment and of the lock by germicide emitted from the nozzles orother outlets 94.

When the sterilizing and sealing operations have been completed, theworker may climb the ladder 96, open the closure 32 to pass through theopening 26. After he has passed through the opening 26 he clamps his airlines 164) to the channel parts 28 and 30, as shown in Fig. 7, and thenrecloses the closure 22 and goes about his Work within the chamber 10.

If, subsequently, another worker desires to enter the chamber 10 whilethe first worker is still within the chamber 10, the process isrepeated.

In cases where a germ-laden atmosphere exists within the chamber 10,sterilization of the chamber 20 will exist prior to entry of the workertherein, so that the only operations then required of the worker withinthe protective garment are first to connect his air lines to theconnectors 76 and 82 when he enters the sterile lock 20, and then toseal the entry tube before he opens the closure 32 leading to thechamber 10. In such cases the attendants must operate the sterilizingmeans to sterilize the lock 20 after the worker has passed from the lock20 into the chamber 10 before another worker can enter. If a secondworker is not required within the chamber, sterilization of the chamber20 may await the return trip of the first worker, as will be obvious.

The provision of the chamber 64 containing liquid is of interest byreason of the fact that it constitutes means to ascertain theeifectiveness of the seal. Thus the liquid within the chamber 64 willnormally remain at a constant level which may be determined by a pipettepassed through the tube 52. If a test with the pipette reveals that thelevel of the liquid has dropped within the chamber 64 without evidenceat the exterior of the entry tube of leakage from the tube SO, theperson making the test is assured that leakage has occurred through thetube past the clamp and is thus assured that an effective airtight sealof the entry tube 50 is lacking. Suitable precautions can then be takenif such condition is observed, as by repair of the device or delay ofopening of the closure 32 until the source of trouble can be located andremedied.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 6, the specimencontainingchamber 110 has projecting therefrom a low level chamber portion 112provided with an access opening 114 at its top which is bounded by acontinuous upwardly projecting flange 116. A second continuous uprightflange or wall 118 is spaced from the flange 116 and cooperatestherewith and with the top wall 120 of the projection chamber 112 todefine a liquid-containing channel.

A closure 122 has a continuous marginal skirt 124 of a size to fit intothe channel for the purpose of immersion in liquid contained within thechannel 116, 118. This cover or closure 122 preferably mounts abacteria-excluding filter member 125. Any suitable means for suspensionof the closure 122 may be provided. Thus ,the closure 122 may beconnected to a chain or cable 126 which is trained around pulleys 128and carries a counterweight 139 at its free end.

The base 132 of the chamber 112 has an endless liquid trap carriedthereby which may be defined by an inner endless channel wall 134 and anouter endless channel wall 136. The channel contains liquid for sealingpurposes.

A seamless flexible tube 138 has a sealed connection with the innerchannel wall 116 at its upper end, said seal being continuous. The tube138 is preferably formed of flexible synthetic resin film material, suchas vinyl chloride film or like material, which is substantiallyairtight, flexible, strong and resistant to corrosion by sterilizingmaterials; The tube'138 is suspended within the chamber 112 and at itslower end carriesa metal ring or other weight member 140 to hold thesame taut and to fit within the channel 134, 136 and immerse the lowermargin of the tube 138 in liquid within the liquid trap defined betweenthe parts 134 and 136.

V A ladder or other access means 142 is mounted within the device toassist passage of a worker through the opening 114 when the closuremember 122 is removed. A worker entering the device within a protectivegarment having airlines will preferably clamp those airlines to thechannel walls 116 and 118 in the same manner illustrated in Fig. 7before the closure 122 is lowered. After the worker enters the tube 138the closure 122 can be replaced to 'reseal the same. 'Thereupongermicide or sterilizing medium. may be circulated within the tube 138as through the discharge nozz1e144 discharging into the interior of thetube 138 and connected at the compressed air line 146 with which anatomizer 148 is con- IleCtCd- After sterilization of both the interiorof the tube 138 and the exterior of the protective garment worn by theworker, the worker can raise the lower end of the tube 138, as bygrasping straps 150 thereon. This permits the worker to move into themain body of the device, that is, into the chamber 110. In thisconnection, as the worker passes into the chamber 110, he may connecthis air line to the walls 134 and 136 of the lower liquid trap in thesame manner illustrated in Fig. 7. Thereupon, the flexible tube 138 mayagain be lowered so that its lower end weighted by ring 140 again isimmersed in the liquid contained within the annular liquid trap.

It will be apparent that the same control of environment of the chamber110 is possible by the Fig. 6 construction as is possible with the Fig.1 construction. The mechanism in each instance is slightly differentand, in each case, entails passage of the worker through a flexible tubewhich can be sealed before he enters the same and after he has enteredthe same. -In each instance the tube remains continuous at all times andonly the access end thereof is unsealed at any time. Thus the need forproviding closure members of the character illustrated in I) my priorPatent 2,705,489 is eliminated and other and more effective sealingmeans can be provided which are easily operated and less subject tojamming and to damage than the sealing means suggested in my priorpatent.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustratedand described, it will be understood that changes in the constructionmay be made within the scope of the appended claims without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. Biological apparatus comprising a chamber within which apredetermined environment is to be maintained, said chamber having anaccess opening, an access chamber communicating with said opening, aclosure releasably spanning and sealing said access opening andincluding a liquid seal surrounding said opening, and means forselectively sealing said access chamber including a flexible tubularaccess part surrounding a second access opening and shifta'ble betweenopen and sealed positions thereof, said access chamber being defined bymaterial impervious to passage of air and liquid therethrough and havinga continuous sealed joint with said first chamber.

2.v Biological apparatus comprising a specimen chamber having an accessopening, releasable meaiis for seal ing said opening, an access chambercommunicating with said access opening and sealingly connected to saidspecimen chamber said access chamber accommodating passage of a persontherethrough to enter and leave said specimen chamber and including aflexible tubular portion open at one end, means for sealing the open end'7 of said tubular portion, said tubular portion assuming one positionwhen open and a different position when closed and being flexed in atleast one of said positions.

3. Biological apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said sealingmeans constitutes a clamp for pressing opposite portions of said tubeinto contact to close the tube.

4. Biological apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said sealingmeans constitutes a pair of spaced opposed members extendingtransversely of said tubular portion and receiving said tubular portiontherebetween, and an expansible member interposed between said tubularportion and one of said rigid members and expansible to squeeze saidtubular portion to closed position.

5. Biological apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said sealingmeans constitutes a clamp extending transversely of and gripping saidtubular portion, said tubular portion being folded upon itself spacedoutwardly from said clamp, the folded portion of said tubular portionhaving an opening in its upper portion to accommodate reception ofliquid therein.

6. Biological apparatus as defined in claim 2, and an air supply systemincluding a conduit extending into said access chamber and mounting acoupling member within said access chamber, and means associated withthe sealing means for said access opening to sealingly position andembrace a flexible conduit extending between said chambers and throughsaid opening.

7. Biological apparatus as defined in claim 2, and an air supply systemincluding a flexible conduit extending through said access opening, saidaccess opening sealing means constituting a liquid trap, and a closurehaving a marginal portion immersed in said trap, said liquid trapincluding a liquid containing porton below the bottom of said marginalclosure portion for removable reception of said flexible conduit.

8. Biological apparatus as defined in claim 2, and an air supply systemincluding a flexible conduit adapted to extend through said accessopening, said access opening sealing means including an endless liquidcontaining channel having spaced projections in its bottom and a closurehaving a marginal portion immersed in the liquid in said channel andsupported on said projections, said flexible conduit extendingtransversely of said channel between projections and below said closuremarginal portion for immersion in said liquid.

9. Biological apparatus as defined in claim 2, and an air supply systemincluding a flexible conduit adapted to extend through said accessopening, said access opening sealing means including an endless liquidcontaining channel having spaced projections in its bottom and a closurehaving a marginal portion immersed in the liquid in said channel andsupported on said projections, said flexible conduit extendingtransversely of said channel between projections and below said closuremarginal portion for immersion in said liquid, and ciip means detachablyconnecting said conduit to said channel.

10. Biological apparatus as defined in claim 2, and an air supply systemincluding a flexible conduit adapted to extend through said accessopening, said access opening sealing means including an endless liquidcontaining channel having spaced projections in its bottom and a closurehaving a marginal portion immersed in the liquid in said channel andsupported on said pro ections, said flexible conduit extendingtransversely of said channel between projections and below said closuremarginal portion for immersion in saidliquid, said access chamberconstituting an imperforate seamless tube sealingly connected to saidspecimen chamber at its upper end and depending therefrom, one of saidsealing means constituting an endless channel containing liquid toreceive and immerse the lower end of said tube.

ll. Biological apparatus comprising a specimen chamher having an accessopening in an overhanging substantially horizontal wall spaced above asupporting surface exteriorly of said speciment chamber, an imperforateflexible tube sealingly secured to said wall around said opening andsuspended therefrom, a releasable sealing closure for said accessopening, and an endless liquid containing member immersing the lowermarginal portion of said tube.

12. Biological apparatus as defined in claim 11, and a weight ringsecured continuously to the lower margin of said tube and freelyreceivable in said liquid containing member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,185,711 Reyniers Jan. 2, 1940 2,516,419 Reyniers July 25, 19502,705,489 Trexler 'Apr. 5, 1955

